Navy suspends search for sailor missing in South China Sea

The sailor, who was a crew member on the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem, will not be identified until after next of kin are notified. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

The Navy on Friday suspended its search for a sailor believed to have fallen overboard during operations near the Philippines, ending three days of searches, said Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.

The sailor, who was a crew member on the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem, will not be identified until after next of kin are notified, Davis said.

The sailor is believed to have gone overboard on Wednesday and a multinational search ensued, though ultimately no trace was found.

U.S. P-3 Orion patrol aircraft surveyed the area and Japan's maritime self-defense force also looked for the sailor using helicopters. The Chinese navy, which was apparently in close vicinity, also aided the Navy in its search, Davis said.

The search happened about 140 miles west of Subic Bay in the Philippines.